Warsaw named European Best Destination 2023

Poland's underrated capital has finally been recognised as a top travel destination, beating 21 other nominate cities to be crowned European Best Destination 2023.

The competition is run every year by the travel website European Best Destinations which aims to promote culture and tourism in Europe. The 2023 contest was tougher than ever with more than 686,244 votes collected from 178 countries. 

Visiting Warsaw today it is hard to believe that large areas of the city were destroyed at the end of WWII. The city rebuilt itself and contains an intriguing mix of architecture, some of it beautifully restored. Highlights include the rebuilt Old Town; Polin Museum, tracing 1,000 years of Jewish history; and the Fryderyk Chopin Museum. The city is also remarkably good value. 

Despite Warsaw being the only destination nominated in Poland, the city still came out on top of the vote, receiving 142,081 votes, 68% of them from outside of Poland, meaning the city still would have won even without its national votes.

Dorota Wojciechowska, Director of the Polish National Tourist Office in London said: “We are thrilled that Warsaw has got 2023 off to a flying start by being named the best European Destination. The city attracts a lot of overseas visitors who fall in love with the city year after year. I'm pretty sure that this title comes as no surprise to anyone who has been to Warsaw at least once in their lifetime!” She added: “I want to sincerely thank everybody who took the time to vote for Warsaw and would also like to say congratulations to all of the other wonderful cities who were nominated”.

Taking home second place was Athens, Greece, with 91,023 votes. Maribor in Slovenia came in third with 68,641 votes. Vienna in Austria, Cittadella in Italy, Essen in Germany, Veszprem in Hungary, London in England, Grenoble Alps in France and Mannheim in Germany all made it into the top ten.